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Frequently Asked Questions

Vietnam & Cambodia Boutique River Cruise/Tours FAQs

The information provided below should help answer some questions you might have about Uniworld’s Boutique River Cruise and tour in Vietnam and Cambodia. Additional information can be found in the Cruise Companion guide for Vietnam and Cambodia in the BEFORE YOU GO section of this website. [link]

Q: Are visas required?
For US and Canadian citizens, a multiple-entry visa is required for Vietnam. Please see the VISAS section of our website for information about how to apply online. For entry to Cambodia, your Cruise/Tour Manger will obtain a visa for you while on tour. You will need to provide your passport, one passport photo, and $50 USD in cash for this purpose.

For optional extensions, a single-entry visa is required for Laos and no visa is required for Thailand. Please note that obtaining the proper visa(s) and any other required travel documentation is solely your responsibility.

Q: Why do you need a Passenger Information Form?
Due to immigration and security measures worldwide, passenger information must be fully completed and received by Uniworld by the time of final payment. Final documentation will not be processed without receipt of the Passenger Information Form. One completed form is required per guest. Please click here to access our Passenger Information Form page, which provides a printable form, instructions, and additional information.

Q: Do I need vaccinations?
We recommend consulting your doctor to make sure your vaccinations are up to date and that you are in good health for the trip.

Q: What should I wear on my cruise/tour?
It’s best to pack for a range of weather conditions, depending on the season and the regions visited. Wearing layers of lightweight clothing—ideally in light colors—will allow you to easily adjust to temperature changes. Limiting your wardrobe to a simple mix-and-match color scheme will keep your bags to a minimum. Attire in Southeast Asia is more casual than it is in Europe, due to the warmer temperatures. We recommend wearing comfortable, smart-casual clothing onshore and onboard. We also suggest sturdy walking shoes, as you will do a significant amount of walking on shore excursions, often over unpaved or uneven terrain. A sun hat and rain gear are good items to have. Sports jackets and cocktail dresses are not necessary on this itinerary. Please note that shorts are not allowed at dinner aboard the ship.

Q: Is laundry service available?
Laundry service is available in all hotels and onboard your ship for an additional fee. No dry cleaning services are available onboard.

Q: What’s the food like?
Onboard the ship, our skilled chefs use fresh, locally sourced ingredients to prepare all meals, a mix of regionally-inspired and western dishes. Most included meals onshore will be at restaurants serving Asian cuisine.

Q: Can you accommodate special diets?
Kindly inform us if you have specific dietary requests (e.g., low-fat, low-calorie, sugar-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc.). We will do our best to accommodate your needs given the resources available to us.

Q: Can I drink the water?
The ship’s tap water can be used for washing, but please do not drink or brush your teeth with it. Complimentary bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth is provided onboard, and additional bottled water is available free of charge on all excursions. All hotels on this itinerary provide complimentary in-room water. When going ashore, we strongly advise against drinking tap water or any beverage served with ice.

Q: What about insects?
Insect repellant is always a good item to have on hand when traveling in Southeast Asia. Mosquitoes are rarely seen onboard whenever the ship is cruising.

Q: Can I use my credit and debit cards?
All onboard charges are billed to your onboard account. The official onboard currency is the US dollar. You may pay your charges at the end of the cruise with a credit card (Mastercard or Visa) or with cash (US dollars only). Most major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Asia at larger stores. Credit cards and most debit cards can be used for ATM cash withdrawals onshore (there is no ATM machine onboard the ship). Limited currency exchange is available onboard (cash only) and all major hotels have exchange facilities. Travelers Checks are not recommended. Vietnam’s currency is the dong, Cambodia’s the riel, Thailand’s the baht, and Lao’s the kip. Market vendors and small stores will usually only accept local currency (with the exception of Cambodia, which widely accepts US dollars). It is a good idea to carry a modest amount of cash in the local currency for tips or for purchasing souvenirs or sundries. We recommend letting your credit card issuer and bank know of your plans to travel aboard so they can expect foreign transactions on your account.

Q: What is the voltage?
The voltage in Vietnam and Cambodia is 220/50Hz in all hotels and onboard the ship. Onboard ship, the outlets in your stateroom can accommodate both 110v and 220v appliances. In hotels, your electrical appliances from home may require an adapter and/or converter, which your hotel might be able to loan to you. You will need a two round-pin plug adapter in Cambodia and a three-flat-pin plug adapter in Vietnam.

Q: Is there onboard Internet access?
Wi-Fi is not available onboard, but all hotels on this itinerary offer Internet access (an additional fee may apply, approximately $15-$20 USD per day).

Q: Where does the ship dock?
In many Asian ports, your ship is small enough to dock within easy walking distance of places of interest. Elsewhere, the ship may need to dock farther away and a motorcoach transfer will be provided. There may be times when your ship moors next to another ship or between ships, especially in busy ports. Docking locations are determined by the local harbor authorities, not Uniworld or the ship’s Captain.

Q: How much walking should I expect?
Our Vietnam and Cambodia itinerary focuses on places of cultural and historical interest, some of which prohibit vehicles. You should be in good health and able to walk significant distances, often on unpaved or uneven terrain and up and down stairs. Docking facilities may differ from port to port and may be somewhat rudimentary; we will always ensure that gangways are safe and have crew members on hand to assist you. River cruise ships are not designed to accommodate wheelchairs or motor scooters, nor are many Asian buildings or historical sites. Guests with mobility issues may be unable to participate in all shore excursions, but are always welcome to relax onboard and enjoy a spa treatment or quiet time with a good book. Riverbanks and walkways can be dusty or muddy, so we kindly ask that you remove your footwear upon returning to the ship. We will clean your shoes and return them to you as soon as possible.

Q: How do I book optional excursions once onboard?
Optional excursions can be booked with your Cruise/Tour Manager and charged to your onboard account. Some optional excursions need a minimum number of participants to operate. There are no refunds for cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time or for pre-paid tours. On pre- and post-cruise/tour extensions, you may book optional excursions with your Local Host and pay by credit card (cash not accepted). Optional excursions cannot be reserved prior to the cruise.

Q: Is smoking allowed?
Smoking is not allowed onboard or on any sightseeing motorcoach. Onboard your ship, smoking is allowed only in a designated area of the Sun Deck. We also ask guests to refrain from smoking on shore excursions/tours.

Q: What if a major tourist site on my itinerary is closed?
We typically arrange a city tour in these rare situations, or allow extra free time to explore the city’s top sites on your own.

Q: Can I extend or customize my river cruise or land extension?
There are several optional pre- or post-cruise/tour land extensions available on this itinerary: Luang Prabang, Laos; Bangkok, Thailand; and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. If you are traveling with a group of 10 or more guests, the cruise or tour itinerary may be customized to suit the group’s needs.

Q: How accurate are the excursion descriptions?
We do our best to deliver all excursions as promoted, yet there may be times when circumstances beyond our control require us to make certain changes to scheduled activities.

Q: Could my itinerary change for any reason?
We aim to follow the itinerary exactly as promoted, but reserve the right to make any necessary changes to ensure the safety of our guests and ships. If time permits, we will let you know of any changes before you board the ship.

Q: Does each group on excursions have its own guide?
Each group has its own English-speaking guide. Our local experts are considered the best in the industry, and our complimentary audio headsets make it easy to hear every word of their insightful commentary.

Q: Can I take children on my cruise?
In our experience, most children—especially those under 4—are not yet old enough to enjoy river cruising. We make no special arrangements for little ones and offer few kid-friendly activities onboard or onshore. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older at all times.

Q: Is there onboard entertainment?
Talented local performers (music, dance, traditional arts, etc.) may come onboard from time to time to provide after-dinner entertainment.

Q: What about gratuities, either onboard or onshore?
Onboard gratuities for the ship’s staff, crew, and your onshore tour guides are not included in the price of your cruise. Guidelines for tipping can be found in the Cruise Companion for Vietnam and Cambodia. [link] When going ashore on your own, keep in mind that tipping is less expected and more modest in Asia than it is in North America (although equally appreciated). We suggest keeping some local currency on hand for tipping purposes whenever ashore.

Q: Where can I get weather updates during my cruise?
We provide a daily printed program that includes updated weather information, and weather reports may also be accessed via the infotainment system aboard each ship. Up-to-the-minute international weather conditions are also easily available online at sites such as weather.com.